Beverage dispenser



April 3, 1934. c. A. GEDDES BEVERAGE DISPENSER Filed June 13, 1932 //v VEN 7'07 Charles A. Geddes A TTORNE y Patented Apr. 3, 1934 BEVERAGE DISPENSER Charles A. Geddes, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to RichardscnCorporaticn, Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 13, 1932, Serial No. 616,918

7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in beverage dispensers, and has for its principal object the provision of a dispensing devicewhich is simple in construction, inexpensive to make, and which provides means for combining a high- 1y charged carbonated water, or fluid under pressure, with a syrup to form a non-creamy or solid beverage.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for expanding the highly charged carbonated water to spend its force before mixing it with the flavoring syrup so that a non-foamy or solid beverage is formed.

More particularly the object of the invention 2 is to provide the faucet valve member with an being zigzagged to baffle the liquid in its passage therethrough to spend the force of its forward movement so that itmixes with-a syrup when discharged therefrom toform a solid beverage instead of the creamy beverage formed when it is d scharged at high velocity.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a beverage dispenser having a faucet member and a syrup measuring'chamber in said faucet member, a valve member revolubly mounted in said faucet member 'and having a passageway to connect the measuring chamber with a source of syrup supply, and asecond passageway for connect ng the measuring chamber with a discharge opening when the valve mem- 1 bar is turned, adjustable means being provided for restricting the second passageway to vary the interval of time required for a measured volume of syrup to flow from tlie measuring cham her, which time interval is, fixed by the time required for a given volume of beverage, such as a glassful, to flow from thefaucet, and the coloring i material contained in the syrup flows throughout the entire interval or until the glass is full.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts thatwill appear from the following description when read in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawing the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawing: 7

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a beverage dispenser illustrating one possible embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the faucet devices partly broken away and partly in section;

Fig. 3 is a similar view of the outer end of the faucet member showing its valve member in another position, parts being removed and broken away to conserve space;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrow at said line; 7

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially in the plane of line 55 of. Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrow at said line;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially in the plane of line 6-6 of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrow at said line;

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the faucet member;

:Fig. 8 is an elevation ofthe rearend of the valve member detached, and

Fig. 9 is a section on line 99 of Fig. 8.

Referring particularly to the drawing, a beverage dispenser of well known type is shown having a barrel-shaped casing 1 and dispensing .devices mounted in the outer wall of said casing. Sad dispensing devices comprise a support 2 mounted in an opening in the Wall of the easing and having one or more openings therethrough which are connected with suitable sources. of beverage content in the casing. In the illustrated embodiment, the support has two openings, one of which is connected with a source of syrup supply by means of a conductor 3 and the other is connected with a source of carbonated water under pressure, or other suitable charged diluent.

, Mounted on the outer end of the support 2 is a faucet member 5. At its inner end, the faucet member is counterboreg to form an opening which is internally threaded to project over the J outer end of the support and receive a sleeve 6" revolubly mounted on the support and threaded into said opening whereby the faucet member is secured to the outer end of the support. At its outer end, the faucet member is provided with an opening in which a valve member 7 is revolubly mounted. The faucet member is provided with longitudinally arranged openings between the openings in its ends in which are arranged conductors 3 and 9 corresponding to the conductors 1 3 and 4, and projecting above the bottom of the opening in its rear and into the front ends of the corresponding openings in the support. At their front ends said conductors communicate with the opening in the front end of the faucet member or with openings adapted to register therewith in the valve member.

Intermediate the openings in the ends of the faucet member is a syrup-measuring chamber 11, and communicating with this chamber is an auxiliary chamber 12 provided in a nipple 13 projecting upwardly from the faucet member. A valve seat 14 is arranged between the measuring and the auxiliary chamber with which a valve 15 having a tubular valve stem 16 communicates at its lower end with the measuring chamber. A thimble l? is threaded into the open upper end of the nipple l3 and has a seat therein for a gasket ISengaged by a plug 19 threaded into the upper end of the thimble. Said plug and gasket are provided with centrally arranged openings for the valve stem which is frictionally engaged and held by the gasket. By this arrangement, the valve stem is slidable vertically in the plug 19 to and from engagement with its seat, and when disengaged from its seat and raised to its limit, the capacity of the measuring chamber is increased by the volume or capacity of the auxiliary chamber.

The parts thus far described form no part of the present invention except as they enter into combination therewith, and since they are fully described in other applications filed of even date herewith, further description thereof is deemed unnecessary here. The valve member 7 is revolubly mounted in the opening in the outer end of the faucet member and is provided with a finger-piece 21 whereby it may be manually operated, and which projects radially outwardly therefrom through an elongated slot 32 in the wall of the opening in the faucet member. The front end of the opening for the faucet member is closed by means of a cap 23 threaded therein, and in order to lock the cap against accidental displacement, it is provided with a centrally arranged tapped opening which receives a pointed screw 24 arranged in axial alinement with the valve member which it is adapted to engage to lock the cap against accidental turning. When the inner end of the screw is released from its engagementwith the valve member, the cap is released and may be manually rotated.

The valve member has a passageway or opening 25 therein, the inner end of which registers with the outer end of the conductor 8. The opening 25 extends forwardly from the conductor 3 and then radially of the valve member to a point adjacent its outer periphery and then extends rearwardly again, and when the valve member is in the normally closed posi ion shown in Fig. 2, its rear end registers with the front end of an opening 26 leading to the measuring chamber ll. The valve member is provided with another passageway or opening 27 adapted to register with the opening 26 when the valve member is moved to the open position shown in Fig. 3 and connects the latter opening with a discharge opening 28 in the wall of the faucet member. It will be noted that when the valve member is in the normal or closed position shown in 2, the syrup may flow through the conductor 3 and conductor 8 to the passageway 25 in the valve member, thence through the opening 26 to the measuring chamber 11, and said chamber is filled with syrup. When the valve member is turned to the open position shown in Fig. 3, the opening or passageway 25 moves out of registration with the opening 26 and cuts off the flow of syrup from its source to the measuring chamber, and the pas sage 27 moves into registration with the opening 26 and permits the syrup to flow by gravity from the measuring chamber to the discharge opening 28. The discharge opening 28 leads to a discharge nozzle 29 mounted on or made integral with the faucet member an forming a mixing chamber 31 in its upper end adjacent the opening 28.

When the valve member is closed or in the position shown in Fig. 2, the front end of the passageway or conductor 9 for the charged or carbonated water under pressure is closed by the valve member. When, however, the valve memher is turned to the open position shown in Fig. 3, an opening 34 in the rear end of the valve member registers with the front end of the passageway 9. The. opening 34 leads into an enlarged passage 35 extending forwardly in the valve member and at its forward end opens into an elongated expansion chamber 36 at a point intermediate the ends of the chamber. One end of said chamber, the end '3'? in the embodiment illustrated, is closed while the other end 38 opens into a passageway 39 in the valve member which inclines downwardly and rearwardly as seen in Fig. 3, through the axial center of the valve member in position to discharge through the discharge opening 28 adjacent the passageway 27. By a comparison of Figs. 2 and 3, it will be noted that the passageway 9v and discharge opening 28 are closed when the valve member is in the Fig. 2 position, and the syrup is free to flow to the measuring chamber. When the valve member is turned to the Fig. 3 position, the passageway from the source of supply to the measuring chamber is closed and the opening or passageway 2'7 now registers with the opening or passageway 26 to permit the syrup to flow from the discharge opening 28. At the same time, the opening 34 is brought into registration with the rear end of the passageway 9 to permit the charged diluent to escape through the valve member to the discharge opening 28.

The carbonated water or other charged diluent has a tendency to expand when released from confinement, owing to its pressure or gaseous content, and if discharged directly into the syrup, it discharges with considerable force and combines with the syrup to form a more or less foamy or creamy product. By providing means for expanding the charged diluent and baffling it by changing its direction of movement, the velocity of its forward movement is slowed down so that its force is spent before it is discharged into the syrup, resulting in a less foamy or solid product. As indicated above, the charged water enters the valve member through the opening 34 and passes into the enlarged passageway 35 where it is permitted to expand. From the passageway 35 it passes into the expansion chamber 36 where its forward movement is again slowed up by engagement with its front wall and also by further expansion therein, and from the expansion chamber it flows downwardly and rearwardly in a somewhat reversed direction to further slow up its movement and is discharged into the mixing chamber 31 where it is mingled with the syrup from the measuring chamber.

It will be noted that a predetermined volume of syrup is discharged with each operation of the valve member, which may be varied within certain limits. When the charge of syrup in the mixing chamber is exhausted, it ceases to flow and if the container in which the beverage .is to be served is not yet full, it must be 'filledwith the carbonated water which then flows from the discharge nozzle in a colorless stream, since no syrup containing coloring material is mixed with it in the mixing chamber. It is desirable, however, to have a mixed colored liquid flow from the nozzle 29 to thecontainer until the container is filled. To this end, meansare provided for limiting the speed of flow of the syrup from the measuring to the mixing chamber, said means being adjustable sothat the period of flow of the syrup may be prolongedwhen a larger proportion of the carbonated water is required to fill the container, or the period may be shortened to insure a complete discharge of the syrup from the measuring chamber when the container is filled. To this end, atapped opening 41 is provided in the forward end of the valve member which is in alinement with and opens into the passageway or opening 27. A screw 42 is threaded into this opening and is adjustable therein, so that its rear may project to a greater or less extent into the opening 27 to close or open said opening to increase or reduce the volume of syrup delivered therethrough in a given interval of time, and hence is operative to increase or decrease the interval. of time required for the measured volume of syrup to flow from the measuring chamber. For convenience in adjusting the screw 42, a tapped opening in axial alinement therewith may be provided in the cap 23, through which a small screw driver or other suitable instrument may be inserted for adjusting the screw. When not in use, said tapped opening may be closed by means of a screw-43. By this arrangement, the screw 42 may beadjusted without removing the cap 23.

A washer or gasket 44 is arranged between the inner end of the valve member and the bottom of its opening in thefaucet member, and may b held in frictional engagementwith the bottom of said opening by the screw 24. In the present embodiment, the valve member has a pair of oppositely arranged arcuate flanges 45 projecting axially from its rear end between which the washer is seated thereon. The washer has di-- iametrically opposite arranged projections 46 seated between the ends of the flanges 45 and frictionally engaged thereby. By this arrangement, the washer is frictionally held to the end of the valve member to turn therewith and is provided with openings registering with the openings in the rear end of the valve member. The thickness of the washer may be slightly greater than the height of the flanges 45 to project therefrom into engagement with the rear end i of the valve opening. From use and wear, however, the washer may become thinner until its thickness may be even less than the height of the flange 45, and means are provided for prolonging its usefulness until worn quite thin. To this end,

with a :casing, of 'aifaucet member mountedin the wall of the casing, a passageway through said faucet member ileadingto-asource of fluid under pressure, a discharge opening in said faucet member, a valve member revolubly mounted in said faucet member, a passageway in said valve member for connecting said passageway through the faucet. member with. the discharge opening when the valve member is in its open position, said passageway in the valve. member being zigzagged to baiile the. fluid and reduce the velocity of its forward movement, and means'for operating said valvesmember.

2. In a beverage dispenser, the combination with a casing, of a faucet member mounted in the wall-of the casing, a passageway-through said faucet member leading to a'source of fluid under pressure; a dischargeiopening in said faucet member, a valve member revolubly mounted in said faucet member, a. passageway in said valve member. for connecting said passageway through the faucet member with the :discharge opening when the valve member is in its open position, said passageway in the valve member comprising a forwardlys-eXtending branch of greater diameter than the passageway in the faucet member leading to a transversely arrangedexpansion chamber, and a downwardly and laterally inclined branch leading from the expansion chamber to the discharge opening, and means for operating said valve member.

3. In a beverage dispenser, the combination with a casing, of a faucet member mounted in the wall of the casing and having an opening in its end for a valve member and a discharge opening.

leading from said first'mentioned opening, a passageway through said faucet member connecting said first; mentioned opening with a source of liquid supply,=a. valve member revolubly mounted in said opening, a passageway in said valve member.

for connecting the passageway through the faucet member with said discharge opening, a cap threaded into theend of the faucet member for closing the opening therein, means for locking said cap against accidental displacement, said means comprising a screw threaded into a centrally arranged opening in the cap and having a point at its inner, end arranged to engage the valve member at a point in axial alinement there with, and means for turning the valve member.

4. In a beverage dispenser, the combination with a casing, of a faucet member mounted in the wall of the casing and having a valve opening in its end and a discharge opening leading therefrom, a measuring chamber in said faucet member, a passageway through said faucet member leading to said valve opening from a source of syrup supply, a valve member revolubly mounted in said opening in front of the measuring chamber, a passageway leading through the faucet member from the valve opening to the measuring chamber, a passageway through the valve member arranged to connect said last mentioned. passageway with the passageway from the source of syrup supply to fill the measuring chamber with syrup, a second passageway in the valve member adapted to connect said passageway to the measuring chamber with said discharge opening to discharge the syrup from the measuring chamber, and adjustable means in the valve member for varying the time interval required for the syrup to flow from the measuring chamber.

5. In a beverage dispenser, the combination with a casing, of a faucet member mounted in the wall of the casing and having a valve opening in its outer end and a discharge opening leading therefrom, a syrup measuring chamber in said faucet member, a passageway through said faucet member connecting the inner end of said valve opening with a source of syrup supply, a second passageway through said faucet member con- 'necting said valve opening with a suitable source of diluent, a third passageway in said faucet member connecting said valve opening with the measuring chamber, a valve member revolubly mounted in said valve opening in front of the measuring chamber, a passageway in said valve member adapted to connect said first mentioned passageway with a third passageway in the faucet member to fill the measuring chamber with syrup, a second passageway in said valve member adapted to connect the third passageway in the faucet member with said discharge opening to discharge the syrup from the measuring chamber, a third passageway in said valve member arranged to connect the second passageway in the faucet member with the discharge opening when the measuring chamber is connected therewith to discharge diluent into and mix it with the syrup, and adjustable means in said valve member adapted to cooperate with its second passageway to adjust the interval of time required for the flow of the syrup from the measuring chamber to the interval of time required for a given volume of diluent to flow from the discharge opening.

6. In a beverage dispenser, the combination with a casing, of a faucet member mounted in the wall of the casing and having a valve opening in its outer end and a discharge opening leading therefrom, a syrup measuring chamber in said faucet member, a passageway through said faucet member connecting the inner end of said valve opening with a source of syrup supply, a second passageway through said faucet member connecting said valve opening with a suitable source of diluent, a third passageway in said faucet member connecting said valve opening with the measuring chamber, a valve member revolubly mounted in said valve opening in front of the measuring chamber, a passageway in said valve member adapted to connect said first mentioned passageway with the third passageway in the faucet member to fill the measuring chamber with syrup, a second passageway in said valve member adapted to connect the third passageway in the faucet member with said discharge opening to discharge the syrup from the measuring chamber, a third passageway in said valve member arranged to connect the second passage way in the faucet member with the discharge opening when the measuring chamber is connected therewith to discharge the diluent into and mix it with the syrup, and adjustable means in said valve member for adjusting the tin e interval required for the flow of the syrup from the measuring chamber to the time interval required for a given volume of diluent to flow from the discharge opening, said means comprising a screw threaded in an opening in the valve memher, and adjustable into said third passageway in the valve member to restrict the flow of syrup therethrough.

7. In a beverage dispenser, the combination with a casing, of a faucet member mounted in the wall of the casing and having a valve opening in its outer end and a discharge opening leading therefrom, a syrup measuring chamber in said faucet member, a passageway through said faucet member connecting the inner end of said valve opening with a source of syrup supply, a second passageway through said faucet member connecting said valve opening with a suitable source of diluent, a third passageway said faucet member cennecting said valve opening with the measuring chamber, a valve member revolubly mounted in said valve opening, a passageway in said valve member adapted to connect said first mentioned passageway with the third passageway in the faucet member to fill the measuring chamber with syrup, a second passageway in said valve member adapted to connect the third passageway in the faucet member with said discharge opening to discharge the syrup from the measuring chamber, a third passageway in said valve member arranged to connect the second passageway. in the faucet member with the discharge opening when the nieasuring chamber is connected therewith to discharge the diluent into and mix it with the syrup, ad- H r justable means in said valve member for adjusting the time interval required for the flow of the syrup from the measuring chamber to the time interval required for a given volume of diluent to flow from the discharge opening, said means comprising a screw threaded into an opening in the front end of the valve and arranged in axial alinernent with said third passageway in the valve member and adjustable into said passageway to restrict the flow of syrup therethrough, and a cap for closing the end of said valve opening having an opening therethrough for giving access to said screw.

CHARLES A. GEDDES. 

